Rhode Island Historical Society

DECLARING INDEPENDENCE IN RHODE ISLAND: CONTEXTS AND IMPACTS [THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL HOST A SERIES OF SIX (6) PUBLIC TALKS ON THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF 1776 AND THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND ADJACENT AFTER-SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS FOR TEACHERS, AND WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT A DEDICATED WEBSITE AND DATABASE TO ITS DIGITIZED COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.]

2016 HPF AACR - RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, OUTREACH, AND EDUCATION

TO SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT WILL DIGITIZE AND MAKE AVAILABLE APPROXIMATELY 6,400 PAGES OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR REGIMENTAL AND PROVIDENCE HOSPITAL RECORDS FROM 1775 TO 1783.

THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO INCREASE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO ADDRESS INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY (IDEA) ISSUES ACROSS THE MUSEUM, BUILDING UPON EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL ASSESSMENTS OF PROGRAMMING, INTERPRETATION, HIRING PROCESSES, FACILITIES, AND VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS. THE CONSULTANT WILL ASSESS THE INTERNAL WORKPLACE CULTURE, LEAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSEUM STAFF, CONVENE EXTERNAL COMMUNITIES TO ASSESS THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF THE ORGANIZATION, AND DEVELOP A PLAN FOR FUTURE IDEA ACTIVITIES. THE INTENDED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO HIRE AND RETAIN A MORE DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND VOLUNTEER CORPS, EXPANDING ENGAGEMENT WITH PROGRAM AUDIENCES FROM TRADITIONALLY MARGINALIZED BACKGROUNDS, DIVERSIFYING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO ELEVATE VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN INTERPRETATION AND COLLECTING PRACTICES, AND SUPPORTING STAFF IN THE APPLICATION OF IDEA TO THEIR EVERYDAY WORK.

THE RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY WILL IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR ITS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE IN USING DIALOGUE FACILITATION WITH DIFFERENT AUDIENCES AND IMPROVE THEIR READINESS TO WORK ON RE-INTERPRETING PROGRAMMING, EXHIBITIONS, AND COLLECTIONS PRACTICES. STAFF MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN A THREE-DAY TRAINING OFFERED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF SITES OF CONSCIENCE ON FOSTERING DIALOGUE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THEY WILL ALSO ENGAGE IN A SERIES OF FOUR ONLINE SESSIONS WITH THE MEMORIAL ACTE (A MUSEUM IN GUADELOUPE, ON THE SITE OF THE FORMER DARBOUSSIER SUGAR FACTORY); THE BARBADOS MUSEUM AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY; MAISON DES ESCLAVES ON GOR?E ISLAND IN SENEGAL; AND THE WHITNEY HERITAGE PLANTATION MUSEUM IN LOUISIANA. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE SITE VISITS TO HARRIET BEECHER STOWE CENTER IN HARTFORD, CT; THE FERREIRA-MENDES PORTUGUESE-AMERICAN ARCHIVES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS (DARTMOUTH); AND THE HIP-HOP ARCHIVE AT THE JOSEPH P. HEALEY LIBRARY AT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS (BOSTON).